The world's biggest economy expanded 2.1 percent for all of 2022, down from the 5.7% growth figure in 2021, according to Commerce Department data.
In the October to December period, the US saw its gross domestic product rise at an annual rate of 2.9 percent.
This was down as well from 3.2 percent in the third quarter last year, although better than analysts expected.
Household spending and business investment remained positive in the final quarter last year though they slowed, while inventories and net exports helped growth, said Rubeela Farooqi of High Frequency Economics.
Meanwhile, residential investment continued contracting.
The interest-sensitive housing sector has been reeling on the back of the Federal Reserve's rate hikes, with mortgage rates remaining high and weighing on affordability.
"Looking ahead, recent data suggest that the pace of expansion could slow sharply in the first quarter, as the effects of restrictive monetary policy take hold," Farooqi said.
Declines in manufacturing and retail sales were also recorded.
The slowdown would be welcome news to the Fed and could open doors to a slower pace of rate increases ahead.
The latest number marks the second straight quarter of growth after two rounds of contraction.
"The increase in real GDP in 2022 primarily reflected increases in consumer spending, exports," and certain forms of investment, said the department in a statement.
While unexpectedly resilient consumer spending supported growth last year, there are signs that households are drawing down on their savings from the pandemic period.
This could point to more subdued expenditures ahead, analysts say.
"Recent economic data signal the economy entered 2023 on a weak footing," said Ryan Sweet of Oxford Economics in a report.
He expects the US could enter a recession in the second quarter as consumers limit spending and businesses become more reluctant to hire and invest.
But others believe the country may yet avoid a recession, if the labor market remains strong and household balance sheets are healthy.
Even if households are eating into their funds due to inflation, "they're coming from a very high point," and this should alleviate or prevent a protracted downturn, according to Moody's Analytics economist Matt Colyar.